President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work with China and other nations to deepen cultural exchanges, strengthen creative industries and promote understanding and tolerance.
Zardari arrived in Chengdu on Friday to start a 10 -day visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese government. The first day, he attended the second Golden Panda awards and held conversations with high -ranking members of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
When heading to the International Culture Forum, the President said that culture remained a “vital bridge for peace, prosperity and a shared future for humanity.”
He expressed Pakistan’s full support for China’s vision on the “exchange of civilizations and mutual learning,” and highlighted the importance of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), highlighting its focus on sustainable development, regional stability and inclusive international cooperation.
Zardari said the world was experiencing dramatic changes, praising President Xi Jinping for offering “a path of cooperation and win-win solutions instead of confrontation.” He congratulated the winners of the award, describing their creativity as an artistic effort that “transcends borders and unites people through shared human values.”
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He also thanked the Government of the province of Sichuan, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles of China, and the organizers of the Forum for Hospitality.
During a meeting with Li Shulei, a member of the Political Office and Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPC and the Minister of the Advertising Department, Zardari underlined Pakistan’s commitment to expand people contacts to people and public diplomacy.
Li said that both he and President XI valued Zardari’s role in strengthening the Pakistan-China association, calling the two countries “brothers dressed in iron.” He added: “The world needs and deserves the fragrance of books instead of the smell of gunpowder.”
While Pakistan and China prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, Li said the association was a testimony of lasting ties among their peoples.
In addition to Chengdu, Zardari will visit Shanghai and Xinjiang during his stay from September 12 to 21, where he will meet with provincial leaders. According to the president’s office, the visit will include discussions on economic and commercial cooperation, progress in CPEC, multilateral participation and reaffirmation of mutual support on issues of central interest, while underlines the joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability.
In August, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited China to attend the Summit of the State Council (CHS) of the SCO, held from August 31 to September 1.
During the visit, Pakistan and China signed multiple comprehension memorandum (MOU) and joint companies worth $ 8.5 billion to deepen the collaboration of company to company in agriculture, industry, health, commerce, mining and minerals.
When heading to the signature ceremony in Beijing, Shehbaz described the agreements as the “long march of economic development” between the two nations. “This long march will begin with Beijing and conclude in Islamabad,” he said.
The prime minister emphasized that the initiative aims to transform Pakistan into a prosperous economy by attracting billions of investments, creating millions of jobs and strengthening the country’s financial bases. “We are resolved to work tirelessly until this long march of economic development reaches its destination,” he said.
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Shehbaz also expressed her gratitude to Chinese leadership and people for their support for territorial integrity, Pakistan’s sovereignty and socioeconomic development. He congratulated China for organizing the SCO Summit in Tianjin and extended congratulations on the 80th anniversary of victory in the resistance war and the world antifascist war.
The prime minister also met with the Chinese president Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the people of Beijing, in a meeting considered significant in the context of the geostrategic developments in progress. Pakistan’s ties with the United States have changed in recent months, while Washington’s relations with New Delhi have deteriorated.
During the conversations, both parties reaffirmed their “Ironclad association” and promised to deepen cooperation. Shehbaz added that no one could shake the strong link between Pakistan and China.
